Ok clearing out the stable and getting new, "used" , cars for the driveway..

Know a local dealership so "borrowed" a couple of cars for the weekend..

'03 miata BTDT nice but no HP

'03 S2000.....now that was fun... high reving, good street handling, cabin a bit small but I'm 5'8'' so no issues.. vtech kicks in around 6000 rpm, rumor has it , and 90 at 9000 in 3rd... rumor has it!!?? push button start and electric top.....

or

Boxster 2.7... drove one while ago with a tip, nice car, larger, more truck room, more cabin space, handled great..

So questions who has one of the above. What are the gotcha's on the boxster, maintaince costs??? to be driven only 10-15k per year.

Not the answer you're looking for...but...
I'm very happy with my 2003 Nissan Altima with the 245HP 3.5 v-6.

KT

Boxster... no question about it

only the Boxter will feel right....

For a DD....slam dunk for Japanese.

Hard to go wrong with a 2.7 Boxster. Very reliable, fairly cheap to work on and maintain. My Boxster has been perfect for 4 years and 35,000 miles with exception of an oil leak that was fixed under warranty. Boxster's do burn through rear tires in about 10,000 to 15,000 miles depending on your driving habits. Some cars have leaking rear main seals - make sure to check maintance records for that issue. Probably better to avoid a car with a leaking issue as they tend to reoccur.. Some Boxsters had problems with AC drains leaking into the passenger side floor - I'd want to check to make sure everything is clean there. I have heard of oil pump failures and blown engines, but they are rare. Note Boxster probably isnt a good car to track with r compound tires as Porsche warns against that practice . Porsche beats out Honda and Toyota in new car reliability now if your considering a new car.

I test drove the new S2000 last week as I was considering a new daily driver too. I hated the S2000 car compared to my 2.7 Boxster. Honda has no low end power, you need to rev the crap out of it to get power, hardly daily driver material (great car for the track!) The Honda has no trunk space, manual top, manual seats that are uncomfortable compared to the boxster. Ride in the Honda is jittery again not daily driver freindly. The low production numbers on the s2000 has kept the used prices artificially high. While the vast numbers of Boxsters have helped drive used prices artificially low for the value you get in that Porsche.

Have you thought about waiting until the new Pontiac Solstice comes out? I think it would make a great daily driver. Big torquey four cylinder matched to a tranny that is made by the same supplier who makes the one in the S2000.

Mini is an expensive toy, but would make a good daily driver. The new Miata looks like a great car as well.

I enjoy my Boxster as a daily driver. I wouldn't get the tiptronic though. The 6 speed is just too much fun.

buy a 944, they are cheap and easy to fix, parts are reasonably cheap and most are available aftermarket

QUOTE

I wouldn't get the tiptronic though.  The 6 speed is just too much fun.

Absolutely must get the Manual trans; .. I have driven a students' 996TIP on the track at WSIR, it just feels odd!

clearification: Daily driver for me = friday through monday.....rentals during the week.

If your'e looking to spend in the Boxter/S2000 price range, consider a 308 Dino or '82-83 Mondial.......

QUOTE (nickg @ Jul 4 2005, 08:00 PM)

buy a 944, they are cheap and easy to fix, parts are reasonably cheap and most are available aftermarket

"Cheap and easy to fix"? On what planet? A 944 is the most expensive Porsche to OWN. Buy 'em cheap 'cause the seller doesn't want to do yet another water pump and timing belt. Runs about 12-1400 bucks, retail, and you can buy a decent 944 for about $3-4K. The Cap'n

i'd go with a 968.

QUOTE (MarkG @ Jul 5 2005, 08:11 AM)

If your'e looking to spend in the Boxter/S2000 price range, consider a 308 Dino or '82-83 Mondial.......

A 308? I think he's looking for reliable daily transportation, not another project to work on...

I've know a few people that have either owned or been mechanincs for people who have owned 308's, and -reliable- is a word that was never used in conversation...

-Josh2

QUOTE (MarkG @ Jul 5 2005, 08:11 AM)

If your'e looking to spend in the Boxter/S2000 price range, consider a 308 Dino or '82-83 Mondial.......

308 Dino as a daily driver. Cool idea!

A friend of mine has a 308. (Hmm, I think Wayne might also have one!) The annual maintenance on the car is supposed to be "only" $1000. The car rarely makes it out of the shop for less than $10K. That's per year. Every year. And it doesn't get driven that many miles...

One fellow Pelican's take on Wayne's Italian car was, "That thing is a bigger POS than your 914, Dave!!"

It's tough to go wrong with a modern Japanese car as a "starts every day" daily driver. Sounds like you want more fun than that, though. So I'd seriously consider the Boxster.

--DD

Just out o fcuriosity, what problems do the 308 have that are so common? Always liked 'em thought I'd get one someday.........I second the Cap'n's(?) Capn's(?) Cap'ns'(?) capsatians(?) 944 take. I love mine,no intentions of selling, BUT I also werk on them, so my bills aren't as high.

Oh yeah, my 2cents....Boxter, keep it in the family.

More reliable than Toyota

That's a heavy statement. I cannot agree.


Porsche claims maintenence costs are very low, however.
The new 911 owner's manual says the oil change interval is up this year from
12,000 to 20,000 miles! HA! HA!

There's no way I would drop 90 grand on a car and then go 20k between oil
changes. I don't care what kind of oil system it has.